By COLlive reporter
What prayer do you say on COVID-19?
The sons of the great Talmudist Rabbi Adin Even-Israel(Steinsaltz) of Jerusalem released a special prayer that he composed a few years ago for a time of trouble and distress.
The prayer was now updated by his children Rabbi Meni Even-Israel and Rabbi Amechaye Even-Israel to be recited amid the global coronavirus pandemic which was killed and infected many Jewish people in New York, Israel and Europe.
The text of the new prayer was provided to COLlive.com:
“וְהָיָה טֶרֶם יִקְרָאוּ וַאֲנִי אֶעֱנֶה עוֹד הֵם מְדַבְּרִים וַאֲנִי אֶשְׁמָע” (ישעיהו סה, כד)
“And it shall come to pass that, before they call, I will answer, and while they are yet speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24)
Ruler of the world, Father of mercy, Master of Justice:
Have mercy and save Your children who dwell in Your world, which You created with the Attribute of Kindness.
Rescue them from an unseen enemy, ransom them from death, protect them from dread.
Send us Your light to brighten up the broken hearts of orphans, fathers and mothers, men and women who have lost their dearest ones.
Send a full recovery to the ill and the afflicted, those on respirators and in isolation; and give strength, might, and hope to Your people, Your land and Your world.
Ruler of the world, grant insight to the nations so that they will remove from their hearts the hatred of others at this time;
send the light of Your wisdom into the hearts of those who believe falsehood; enlighten the minds of innocents who hear false reports; send a spirit of charity and justice into Your world;
help people build and plant, assist those who are truly suffering; straighten the paths of the world.
Provide a full recovery for the sick of your people, the House of Israel, wherever they are, and for Your children all over the world.
Father of Mercy, who is faithful in His covenant, the time has come for You to send to Your world tidings of salvation and redemption which will comfort all Your children and offer them peace and blessings, light and joy.
1. We must all increase our Torah learning, to the best of our abilities.
2. We must intensify our service of God, which is the service of the heart, the service of prayer. The only service of God left to us is prayer and reciting psalms. Whether we understand everything or nothing, whether we pray in accordance with the kabbalistic intentions of the Ari or without any such thoughts, this is the essence of our entire worship of God. Do we know anything?! Do we understand anything?! As Rabbi Samson of Chinon would say: “I pray with the mind of a child.” Would that we could pray here and now like children.
3. We must also increase acts of lovingkindness. One can give a penny to charity, and one can also donate a larger sum. It is not only those of means who can perform acts of kindness; one can be kind by giving a hand and helping others. Believe me, smiling at someone is also an act of kindness.
Extremely powerful